What to do with a mid-late afternoon 6-hour layover at LHR in April? Even after clearing customs, that's a really long time to hang out at an airport. Are there any nearby pubs (or afternoon tea parlours, or cricket games, or castles!) that we could visit?

How about Windsor? It's not far from LHR and it's a beautiful town.

It isn't Customs -- it is Immigration (passport control) and security. Customs is nothing.

What terminals are you using.

"<i>Are there any nearby pubs (or afternoon tea parlours, or cricket games, or castles!) that we could visit?</i>" There are some ethnic restaurants nearby but LHR isn't in the middle of cricket pitches and parkland.

W/ 6 hours (if you leave airside) you really only have about 2 hours free time - or less if you have to queue to store your carry on luggage. Windsor is the closest place of interest - but it will take you 1/2 an hour to get there and 1/2 an hour to get back so you'd have very little free time. The actual drive is only about 15 mins - but after stowing your carry-on's and walk to the taxi rank plan on about 30 mins total.

The Heathrow Express only take 15 mins to get to Paddington station in London. But that is very deceiving. You have to walk to the station, wait a few minutes for the next train -- and in the end you are only at Paddington which isn't near any sites/tourist attractions. So I wouldn't try for London.

You don't have to decide ahead of time -- wait to see if you land on time and how long it takes to get through immigration. If things go well - then take a cab to Windsor for maybe 2 hours tops.

Otherwise - heathrow is full of shops and places to eat.

Windsor is only about 30 minutes away.

But - do you really have 6 hours?

Are you coming from the US? If so, you need to allow time for immigration. Will you have to deal with luggage - or will it be checked through?

And how early do you have to arrive for your ongoing flight (security can be a bear and the airlines don;t allow any connections less than 2 hours - and I've made a couple of those only by jogging with my carry-on).

If you are departing from terminal 5, the Wagamama restaurant past security is a good place for a slow meal to pass some time.

Windsor was excellent and is pretty close, but only 6 hours would make me a bit nervous to do that. Watch the time when you get there and through passport control and then make the decision if you want to go out or not. If you do go, keep a close eye on time and make sure you're back at the airport 2-3 hours before your flight is scheduled.

If you're in T-5, there's a nice sitting area between gates A7 and A8 where you can watch one of the main runways. There are pod chairs that are actually more comfy than they look, and most people snag two of them to put their feet up as well. When I was through there recently, gates were generally not announced until 1 hour prior to take off time so that was a great area to sit until the gate number was put on the departures board.

Staines is not far from LHR with several restaurants and pubs by the River. Probably 3-4 miles max. Or the Ostrich Pub in nearby village of Colnbrook easily accessible from T5, check opening hours though. Its a very old pub.

Staines is a dump. I wouldn't recommend spending time in Staines. Ever.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Pubs by the Thames sound splendid, and so does Windsor ... but, point taken about six hours not being as long as it sounds. Arriving from the US on AA, then BA for a flight to BCN, so there will be immigration and a terminal change. If all goes according to plan (and that is SO the world in which I live ... NOT) it looks like there might just be time for a taxi ride, with one eye on the clock.

Honestly don't waste your time on Staines. It used to be a nice enough town but now it is a mess, and really not worth visiting.
I was born there, (though I left when I was 2 months old), and still have family in the area.

You may have three hours at best. If using T 5, there are enough shops and restaurants to keep one entertained for several hours. You can indulge in caviar, have anything from a sandwich to a three course meal and imbibe in any kind of drink that suits. If it were me, I'd have a look at the shops, bring a good book, get something to eat, have a glass of wine and not worry about making it back to the airport in time to get through security and checked in prior to my flight.

If I have to spend 6 hours in an airport, Heathrow would be one of my first choices. There's public showers you can rent that are quite nice for between flights to kill an hour or so. The people-watching is nothing short of world-class that airport, some of the 'pubs' are fun, I buy & reqad the trashy local tabloids, have a nice meal in a sitdown restaurant, etc.

<i>Arriving from the US on AA, then BA for a flight to BCN, so there will be immigration and a terminal change.</i>

There won't be immigration if you stay airside, just security. And probably no terminal change - BA fly to BCN from T3, where AA arrives.

Personally, I'd probably go on the bus into Windsor - takes around 40 min. from T5 (so you'd need to take the train from T3 to T5) and costs under &pound;5 if memory serves. Assuming you're on the street 45 min. after landing (and don't have to wait too long for the bus) and want to be back 90 min. before the connecting flight, that would still give you a couple of hours in Windsor - enough time to find a pub or have lunch. There's a pleasant covered shopping cent(e)r(e) right opposite the Castle (Royal Windsor Shopping) that has numerous cafes and places to browse, with the bus stop more or less right in front for the ride back to the airport.

Or, you could take the Heathrow Express into London - only takes 15-20 min., and leaves from the Heathrow Central station (Terminals 1/2(closed) and 3. Fast but pricey, around &pound;30 per person for the round trip.

Or, as Suze says, hang out. Unfortunately IMO T3 is not the best venue to do so, but that's what you'd get.

You're not flying business class by any chance, are you? That would give you access to the lounges in T3.

"<i>Or, you could take the Heathrow Express into London - only takes 15-20 min.,</i>"

Plus walking time to the train, plus waiting for the next train, plus whatever time it takes you to get from Paddington to anyplace interesting, and then repeat for the trip back.